John,

It sounds like we have very similar hearing profiles. I know what you mean by the water sounding different.

I thought of trying the combo but was put off paying 6000.00. I have heard the markup is 100%. Maybe taking a vacation to Cancun and picking up a pair there while having a great vacation for the same amount or less. You could call the company and ask them if they dispense there as well as Canada. Although Cancun sounds more inviting this time of year. In fact I may do that myself. Will let you know.

Mark

Wow a 100% mark up -

Have you guys looked into the new Widex 440 Mind Model - apparently the actual programming is specific to high frequency hearing loss and has something called "cochlea stimulation technology." My high frequency loss is so bad that I can't understand people's speech - it sounds like mumbling and I have to turn the tv up 10 points to a "30" while everyone else is fine with "20" on volume.

I am wondering if you guys had the hearing aid/combo - if your brain's auditory center would get enough stimulation to let go some of the tinnitus -

When my hearing aids went out - broke - and were out for two weeks - my T went up - since getting them back - it went down noticeably.

The reason I am doing the TRT is I have these spikes - horrible dentist drill spikes - I can't understand why - so I am hoping by doing this thing - that I will find a new coping mechanism or perhaps help my brain filter it even during the spikes -

It goes really low and then spikes up -

When I am up in January 2010 and spend that $6400 - I will post here on a diary like thing - I will try to help other people decide whether to put that kind of money down on such a thing.

Also I have digital aids right now - so I can tell if this special programming has any merit - I will probably know whether my cochleas are being stimulated (this sounds horrible) and whether my tinnitus responds to it one way or another.

I will also be able to tell if they are better hearing aids or not - superior to basic no frill digital aids.

I hope to be helpful - it might help me feel better about all that money - man, I wish I could just go buy myself something - I would start with a 62" wide screen with a speaker system so awesome that I wouldn't need the volume up so high -

Also - I wouldn't mind a few other material items.

My audiologist told me today guys, they have already developed a digital hearing aid so tiny they implant them into your ear and you wear them up to six months until the batteries die - you go to bed and wake up and just forget about it until you hear a warning beep to make your next appointment - apparently they want to get it so that you don't even feel them down there and you hear just like a normal person.

They have also developed a set for swimmers that can take water exposure - skiing, swimming - showering - everything and the aids can take it -

Maybe the bionic nanotechnology is going to catch up with us out here.

Somebody asked the question about hearing aids being cheaper in Mexico on the internet and they are. Widex does dispense there but not sure about Cancun.

Interesting information Mandie. I would love a pair of those nano aids. I wonder how long that will be before they are available.

Looking forward to hearing about your journey next year too.

John---I also have moderate high pitched hearing loss in both ears, more so in my right than my left. My right ear is where I have the T. I can also hear fine without hearing aids. I have been wearing the digital hearing aid combo unit with white noise programmed in it for the past year. Before that I wore the white noise in the ear generators. Both of these units have done wonders for me. My T is at a very low hiss which I hardly notice on days when I have the T. On other days I don't hear the T at all. It takes time and patience and a lot of hard work(I had good and bad days)but eventually I saw a big improvement and it got bettet as I went along. It's been two years that I have been on TRT and believe me I can't praise it enough. If you listen to the white noise long enough you brain will habitate and find new non T pathways. Hugs Fall